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Fans' impressions of
Dodger Stadium



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Larry Green, West Palm Beach, FL, FL -- Feb 24, 2008 14:45 PM
1 visit(s). My rating: 9
The best baseball experience of my life. I attended a game against the Padres in late September 1988, on an absolutely beautiful Sunday afternoon. I was 26, and in LA for the first time for a business meeting. Dodger Stadium was 26 also, but I remember it looking it like it had just opened. I grew up a huge Cincinnati Reds fan in the mid-to-late 70's, and as a kid had the great fortune of following one of the very best rivalries in all of sports history. I loved watching the Saturday afternoon games on NBC, with Tony Kubek and Joe Garigiola, and whenever the games were played in LA I was just awed by the site of Dodger Stadium. I was also always impressed with the class and stature of the Dodger organization. Since going to Dodger Stadium, I have been to a dozen or more others, but this is and will always be my "Field of Dreams!"


Joseph Johnston, covington, LA -- Aug 20, 2008 21:46 PM
1 visit(s). My rating: 7
The very first MLB game I ever saw was at Dodger Stadium, so I didn’t really have anything to compare it to. It was in 1962, so it’s rather hard to remember. The Los Angeles Angels hosted the KC A’s, whose team colors were still navy and red. Where my dad parked the car, behind the stadium, was on the side of a hill, so we didn’t have to climb stairs to get to our seats, which were in the topmost deck behind home plate. The Angels called the place “Chavez Ravine Stadium,” despite the big blue letters on the exterior spelling out “Dodger Stadium.” Didn’t have anything to complain about. And the view was spectacular. I might have given it a higher rating if the game were not between a 2nd-year expansion team and the lowly KC A’s.


James S, Las Vegas, NV -- Sep 21, 2008 09:08 AM
2 visit(s). My rating: 9
I am a diehard Dodger fan. I was never able to see them live, however, until May 4, 2006 against San Diego. Although they lost, the smell of Dodger Dogs, of being able to finally see them so close, I could hear them talking... it was majestic. I recently returned to see them beat Arizona on Sept. 6, 2008, to take first place and this time sat in the outfield. Dodger Stadium is so gorgeous, it truly is like a colosseum, a magic castle of pine tar, hot dogs, and Dodger Blue. Seeing the players up close, with thousands of Dodger fans all around and above me, all riding on every single pitch, makes the magic more real. It was something I won't ever forget. I will be taking my children, and their children, to Dodger Stadium for many years to come.


Derek M, Los Angeles, CN -- Feb 17, 2010 16:09 PM
10 visit(s). My rating: 8
As a diehard Dodger fan its tough for me to be objective but I can do my best. First off the stadium is probably the cleanest out of the dozen or so I've been too. The cookie-cutter design certainly won't please everyone but personally I like the game without the ball bouncing 20 feet in one direction off an angled outfield wall. Even the highest seats in the dark blue section (Dodger fans will tell you where they are sitting based on the color of their seat, not the actual name of the level) are right behind home plate and feel close to the action. The food is terrific, and despite what anyone tells you, Dodger fans are among the game's most passionate. Yes a few leave early, but no more than at your average stadium. The stadium's only draw back is its location (though its what gives it its amazing view). It's definitively 1960s, meaning its only accessible by car and surrounded by a huge parking lot. The new redevelopment (if it ever happens) promises to bring shops and museums in place of some parking. If so, it could revolutionize the area and bring the stadium to new heights.


Russ Letra, Baltimore, MD -- Apr 21, 2010 17:26 PM
1 visit(s). My rating: 3
Ugly, overrated and unfriendly.


Keith Bladen, el dorado hills, CA -- Aug 19, 2011 14:34 PM
2 visit(s). My rating: 9
Being a Giants fan I grew up hating the Dodgers. Shockingly, I rate this place #2 behind ATT Park, and #1 for cleanliness. I visited Dodger Stadium in the summer of 1970 and 2001. In those 30+ years, it hadn't shown a bit of wear. It will be 50 years old next April, but you would swear it just was completed. The most amazing aspect is that it's built deep into the ravine. If you stand at home plate and look at the 5 tiers of stands, you're looking up about 150 feet to the top of the stadium. If you stand outside the stadium directly behind home plate at ground level, it's only about 12 feet tall. Over 3 million tons of earth were moved to create the bowl for the park during construction. It's still an engineering marvel. I also like it's symmetry because it's true to the site it's on. It doesn't 'fake' asymmetry. The fact that stadiums have been built and torn down within the span that this stadium has existed speaks volumes. The new stadiums of today will be bulldozed before Dodger Stadium. It will be the first and only major league baseball stadium to ever reach 100 years old, and it will do that with a lot of grace. I'll bet will will be just as awe inspiring as it is today.


Wesley Kahnert, Franklin, TN -- Jan 04, 2013 11:52 AM
10 visit(s). My rating: 8
This is the only symmetrical park that I rate highly. Even though I wish that the Dodgers could have stayed at the Coliseum, this park is in a much safer area of LA, and it is easy to get to it from my sister-in-law's house in Pasadena. I was there several times during the days of Sutton, Osteen, Singer, Parker, Grabarkewitz, and others. The last time I saw Koufax pitch there, he was knocked out early in the game against Cincinnati, failing to win his 20th game. A young second baseman named Pete Rose got the hit that forced Alston to lift Koufax. I was there in late September 1971, when the Dodgers made a late push to catch SF. They pulled to within 1 game, and the Giants lost earlier in the day. A win over Houston would move LA into a tie. Al Downing already had 20 wins. Disappointment: Hou won 11-0, and LA lost by 1 game to SF.


Zach LaFleur, Fowlerville, MI -- Dec 22, 2014 14:10 PM
1 visit(s). My rating: 8
Why not include a soccer field diagram along with your hockey rink over the infield diagram? (There was s soccer match played here around 2013 in summer and the soccer pitch was played out from third base to right center field)! As to Captain Emil Praeger and Mr. Kavanagh and Mr.Waterbury's design to enclose the playing field with five decks and 85000 seats, I wouldn't be too soon on doing this (if another football team were to move into LA)! After all, they still have Memorial Colosseum and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (and remember what they did to the Big A for the Rams, then they moved to St. Louis and Angel Stadium had to be downsized for baseball only after this! Now, Praeger-Kavanagh-Waterbury had a similar design for Shea Stadium (full circle, five decks, 90000 seats) and thankfully that was never built that way! Overall, Dodger Stadium is kept looking new despite fifty two years of use which is really great! Also, Nancy Bea Hefley on the Hammond Organ is just as any ballpark should be! Now, the only thing that I would change is deepen center field by more than a few feet (I am used to deep center fields being from Michigan and a fan of the Detroit Tigers)!


Phil B, Pasadena, CA -- Oct 05, 2019 02:55 AM
1 visit(s). My rating: 5
Regarding dimensions, ost agree 1962 center field dimension was 410 feet. Most also acknowledge that home plate was moved 10 feet toward center field in 1969, thus reducing center field to 400 feet. However I see no citation of the outfield fences moved in 5 feet in the early 1970s to account for the current 395 distance. There is photo evidence of the original left field fence location, which abutted the stairway landings to the pavilion. Now, the fence is about 5 feet from the landings, which accounts for the current 395 distance to center field. This can be seen from a recent photo available on google search taken from virtually the exact same spot as the 1962 postcard photo. There is also some question about the curvature of the center field fence, and the actual distance from home plate to center field. The current configuration of the fence there indicates a curvature with a radius originating around home plate, or very close to it. So the current 395 signage located about 15 feet left and right of actual center field likely agrees with true center field. This is also consistent with the original signage location, which indicated center field at 410 feet.


Laine P, Milwaukee , WI -- Mar 03, 2021 12:14 PM
1 visit(s). My rating: 2
Very dated, when I went there in 2005 it felt very dated, also quite unsafe because of the field level club seating with only a net stopping you from getting hit. Also the dual scoreboard thing is not the greatest thing ever. I saw the dodgers get knocked around by the astros that day and I swear to god I want that 3 hours back


James Aguilar, Pomona, CA -- Sep 26, 2023 16:06 PM
10 visit(s). My rating: 8
Here's what I think about Dodger Stadium. Dodger Stadium is a great place to visit, although leaving the stadium may be unpleasant due to heavy traffic. Additionally, fans have a strong hatred towards their divisional rivals. I experienced this firsthand when attending a Giants at Dodgers game, which became quite intense and during day games I once sat on the first base side in the reserve section, which gave me sunburns. However, there are many positives about the stadium. It has a vast number of seats, which allows my entire family to attend games together. I particularly like the comfortable chairs and their color. The new Jumbotrons and sound systems are impressive, although I do have a preference for the old rectangle jumbotron in left field. Surprisingly, the outfield bleachers are quite nice despite some peeling paint. I don't live that far from Dodgers Stadium but I rarely pay for parking instead I take the Dodger Stadium Express which is free. My favorite sections at Dodger Stadium are Reserve for the great views and Field level section 51 for catching foul balls. So this is my opinion about Dodger Stadium.



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